[ACT:14:1-28].
Lesson 326 - Senior
Memory Verse
"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?" (Romans 8:35).
Cross References
I Paul and Barnabas, Two of God's Faithful Missionaries
1. At Iconium, in the Jewish synagogue, Paul and Barnabas boldly preached the Gospel to many, [ACT:14:1]; [ACT:13:5]; [ACT:18:19]; [JHN:6:59]; [JHN:18:20]; [ROM:1:16]; [ROM:2:9-10]. 2. Paul and Barnabas continued for a long time at Iconium, God putting His approval on their work there, [ACT:14:3], [ACT:4:13-31]; [ACT:19:8]; [MAK:16:17]. 3. The persecution, which began at the very first, finally caused them to move to Lystra, [ACT:14:2], [ACT:14:4-6]; [MAT:10:5-33]; [1CO:4:10-13]; [2CO:4:8-10]. 4. At Lystra they preached the Gospel and saw a wonderful miracle performed, [ACT:14:7-10]; [ACT:3:6-8]. 5. Paul and Barnabas, as true men of God, refused to accept the worship of the people and directed them to the worship of God, [ACT:14:11-18]; [ACT:12:21-23]; [ACT:28:6]; [MAT:4:10]. 6. The unbelieving Jews, zealous in their evil, caused Paul to be stoned, [ACT:14:19-20]; [2CO:11:24-27]; [2TM:3:10-12]. 7. Paul's life was spared and he and Barnabas went on to Derbe to preach the Gospel there, [ACT:14:20-21]; [ACT:5:18-19]; [ACT:12:7]; [ACT:16:26]; [1SM:17:37]; [DAN:3:27]; [DAN:6:22]. 8. The return trip to Antioch saw much accomplished by the evangelising missionaries, in instruction, stabilisation, encouragement, organisation, among the new brethren, [ACT:14:21-28]; [1TM:4:1-5].Notes
The Missionary Journey
"There were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, . . . and Saul. . . . the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away" [ACT:13:1-3]). Thus began the first of a series of missionary journeys made by Paul the Apostle. This lesson takes up some of the events, which transpired on this first journey -" events to which Paul referred in his later writings. It is interesting to read what has been written concerning the end of this journey. The account states that they "sailed to Antioch, from whence they had been recommended to the grace of God for the work which they fulfilled." Here were two fearless men of God who braved the hardships of first-century travel, going to strange lands and strange people to carry the Gospel of the Kingdom. Here were two men who had been set aside by the Holy Spirit for the work of God, who not only started out in that work but who never departed from the call of God, even though it cost them much in suffering and shame. These men were not only "recommended to the grace of God for the work" but they fulfilled that work. It is well that we follow their example. It is well that we see how they conducted themselves in this important work. It is well that we see how the work of God was carried on, so we can follow their example in the work that is ours today."To the Jew First"
In the first place, we must take cognisance of the fact that God always has a definite plan for His work. He does not indicate a goal for us to reach and then leave the methods or the means for reaching it entirely to us. When He directs, He makes a way. And when he directs, He also shows the way. There are not a great many ways to take when following His will. There will be only one way that is wholly right. If we fail to go in God's way we can be sure that He, in His mercy, will use the necessary means to bring us back to His way, if we have in our heart a desire above all else to do His will and to walk in His way. God has patience with the finite limitations of our perception of His perfect will for us; and if we fail, He deals with us as with sons. But if we wilfully and deliberately depart from His way, preferring our own methods, plans, or decisions, we shall, in time, find ourselves entirely out of His providence. These two self-supporting missionaries of the early Church followed the will and plan of God completely. (Read [1CO:8:1-15].) God had made plain His will that the Gospel should go first to the Jew. Afterward He showed them it was to be brought to the Gentile too. Certain of the Jews had had golden opportunities to accept their Messiah and to follow Him, and some did. But vast multitudes did not, assuming instead, in one way or another, the responsibility for His death. God's plan was that the Jews should first receive the benefits of His salvation so they might evangelise the world. And when God sent forth His first missionaries to carry the Gospel, this plan was carried out, for these two men were Jews; and when they went forth they went first to the Jews who were living in these remote countries who had not yet heard the message of the Gospel. It was proper that the Gospel should reach them as it had reached those who were eye-witnesses of the miracles and work of Christ. In this way, all the Jews had opportunity to repent and fulfil God's will concerning them. The total distance that was covered in this first missionary journey was probably not less than 1,500 miles. But, in spite of the difficulties they met, they pressed on until it could be said of them that they had fulfilled the work God had given them to do. Small boats, such as they used at that time, greatly increased the discomforts of ordinary sea travel. These two men also probably had to go on foot for a great part of the land journey. But they did not hesitate because of the hardships, or because of the persecutions. They kept at the work of God till they had fulfilled the work that was theirs to do.The Manner of Their Ministry
There are several points of interest and instruction that we should notice in considering this lesson. In the first place, it is written that they "so spake, that a great multitude . . . believed." In Christ's last words to His disciples, He said, "Ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me." One of the things any worker for God must have is that power. Souls are won for God through the Holy Spirit. To be a competent witness for God, we must have the Holy Spirit with us. These two witnesses had that power. When they spoke, multitudes were brought to God. They used tact. They used the wisdom God gave them. They used all their powers of persuasion. They used the talents and gifts that God had given them. They used all these things with the fervency and zeal of an apostle; and, in addition, they had the power of God resting upon their lives. And it was that power that stirred hearts. That same power is for us, too. We must seek for it, covet it, and value it above everything else. Whatever gifts, abilities, talents, or strength may be ours, we must realise that the most important thing for any of us -" and for all of us -" is to have the divine unction upon our lives, our message, and our work. God grant that when we speak, men will believe! The missionaries stayed at Iconium a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord. The Lord put His approval on their methods, allowing the promised signs to follow their ministry. A missionary is an evangelist. An evangelist is a missionary. There is as much evangelism in keeping a soul in the Kingdom as in winning him for the Kingdom in the first place. A soul kept for the Kingdom is a soul won for the Kingdom. These men of God stayed until it was the Lord's manifest will that they go onward, or until the door for their further operations was closed. They went on to other fields and later returned to further instruct, confirm, exhort, and encourage the brethren. And then, when it was necessary that they go onward, they made provision for the future welfare of the Church by ordaining those whom God had designated as capable leaders for the body of believers, that the work which had been done would not be in vain. It is significant that Paul told Timothy to do the work of an evangelist, and yet included in those instructions the things that we ordinarily think of as being exclusively the work of a pastor. It is to be seen, then, that we must do our best to win souls for the Lord and, after having won them, do our best to help them attain to the full stature of godliness. Another thing that we would do well to notice is the attitude of the two missionaries toward those who would do special honour to them. The people of Lystra saw the miracle performed and were reminded of the genuineness of it by the fact that the man who had been lame from birth was leaping and walking before them. Muscles that had never been used, or developed, or made skilful in the art of walking, were brought into instant maturity by the hand of God. Weeks are usually spent in learning to walk, when that art has not been acquired in childhood. But here a man instantly began not only to walk but to leap. There was no doubt as to the extent of the miracle. It was done by something beyond the skill and power of ordinary man. But the people began to worship the men of God instead of God Himself. No true man of God will take for himself the honour and glory that belongs to God. God's true servants never accept worship, or take the credit for doing the works of God. God's servants are humble. It is God who gives the power, wisdom, strength, and the abilities they possess. Therefore, it is He who must receive the credit for the miracles or the accomplishments. There are numerous incidents in Scripture where people have been brought to sudden judgment, who have attempted to take to themselves the honour and reverence that belong to God alone. In a much lesser sense, it can also be said that when we fail to realise how helpless we are in ourselves, and how much we need to depend upon God for strength, wisdom, ability, and spiritual power in everything we do for Him, we fail in that which we have set out to do, because we fail to give God the glory due Him. If we delight ourselves in the work of our hands, and fail to see that it is God who has made it possible and successful in every way, the least we are doing is grieving the Spirit of God. What anointing of the Holy Spirit, or what enduement can we expect to receive or retain, if we fail to honour God by taking to ourselves the honour that should be His -" even in the smallest degree? The Word of God is even more specific along this line -" and more condemning -" for it raises a doubt as to our actual salvation from sin if we seek for and receive the honour of men. In the Bible we read: "How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?" [JHN:5:44]). The Psalmist wrote: "Man being in honour abideth not: he is like the beasts that perish" [PS:49:12]). When Satan tempted Jesus, asking the Son of God to worship him, Jesus replied: "Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve" [MAT:4:10]). The conduct of the Lystra people is profitable to consider here. They were told the message of the Gospel. They worshiped the creature, rather than the Creator, but were restrained by the men of God from continuing in that worship. But it is plain that the hearts of these people were not won over to the true worship; for when the unbelieving Jews came from Iconium and Antioch, the people of Lystra were easily persuaded against the things they had seen. Those who had so recently seen the miracles of God now turned in absolute rebellion against that God and against His servants. Paul was stoned and left as dead.Victory out of Seeming Defeat
Picture the scene that is before us: two faithful men of God, surrounded by a group of believers who were thrilled at the power that had raised a man from impotence to vital strength. A multitude of onlookers, loud in their acclamations of praise so long as they could follow their own fleshly desires, were quickly repulsed by the man of God. Approaching these were veterans in infamy and rejection of God, bent on doing evil to the men who brought the message of a risen Christ. Then a few words were spoken. A miracle was forgotten. The power of God was disbelieved. A stone was thrown " and then a barrage of stones was hurled at the man of God who did nothing to resist their attack. The temporarily scattered group of believers hastened, as soon as they could do so safely, to gather around their fallen leader. Think of Paul's companion, Barnabas. He, a Levite by birth, had seen the greater call and responsibility of the Gospel dispensation, had sold his possessions on Cyprus and had brought the proceeds to the Apostles -" not to the Temple authorities -" and had begun an ardent discipleship that has left its mark on the world. He it was who had brought Paul to the brethren at Jerusalem when they feared him because of his persecution of the Church. If Barnabas had been a mere carnally-minded professor of religion, he might have felt that greater honour and respect were due him because of his prior service with the apostolic number. But all such works of the flesh were missing from this heart and life, for it is apparent that Barnabas was willing to follow the leadership of Paul. He saw God's authority resting upon that precious man. And now, that leader lies on the ground, battered by stones, his bleeding and torn body silent and left as dead. But suddenly there is an evidence of life! There is a stir! And arising! The man of God is on his feet again, and loving ministrations have begun, as devoted and benefited servants of God would naturally bestow upon a humble, but God-chosen, servant of the Cross. Paul began to walk! Another miracle had been performed! He started to proclaim the power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ once more. This less-than-halt of Paul's first missionary journey had been productive for the Kingdom, and had stirred the wrath of Satan's followers, but there remained much ground to be covered. Paul and Barnabas did not hesitate to busy themselves about their Father's business. They were fearless for God, and God honoured their work for Him. The last leg of the journey being finally completed, the men of God rejoiced in the fellowship of Christian brethren at Antioch. There they made their report of all that God had done, that many were saved and led into realms of spiritual blessing, that the sick were healed, and that the adversary had stirred up opposition to try and hinder the cause of God. They could bring back also a report of the power of God to deliver and to give success. Even though Paul and Barnabas had unmistakable evidence of God's direct approval of their methods and ministry, these two missionaries recognised their obligation toward those whom God had directed to send them out and to ordain them to the missionary work. They did not assume an independent attitude but went to the Antioch headquarters when the journey was complete. "And there they abode long time with the disciples," receiving spiritual and physical strength for themselves after the long and arduous trip, and at the same time strengthening and encouraging the brethren who heard them.